You must have wondered at times, how can houses or aeroplanes or even complex items can be made using 3D printing machines. It is a technological wonder that enables you to practically make or manufacture anything that crosses your imagination.
Scientists and technologists have combined together to come out with a technology that enables you to create a prototype of any design that comes to your mind. Today, with advances being made in every field, 3D technology is also not left behind. Several technologies have come out to produce the same thing differently using different materials.
3D printing also known as additive manufacturing creates design using software. Once the design is complete, the 3D printer is used. It adds layer upon layer of different materials, depending on the technology in use to form the shape required. Most technologies use materials like plastics, powders, filaments and paper.
Stereolithography ( SLA)
This technology uses liquid plastic as material to convert 3D printing designs into the object required. Liquid resin is placed in a vat that has a transparent bottom. UV laser is then used to trace a pattern on the resin from the bottom. When the resin solidifies, this structure is then progressively dragged up using a lifting platform. The laser on the other hand makes different designs for every layer to create the shape required.
Digital Light Processing( DLP)
This is a similar technology to SLP, but uses a different light source and uses a LCD display panel. This technology uses conventional light sources and micro mirrors to control the light that falls on surface of the object being printed.
This technology allows large amount of light to fall on resin, allowing it to harden quickly.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
This technology uses production grade thermoplastics as base material for making required objects. In this technology, thermoplastic filaments are melted and extruding thermoplastic layer by layer till the desired object is made.
Selective laser sintering(SLS)
This technology is similar to stereolithography, but uses powdered material in vat in place of liquid plastic. A roller is used to put a new layer on the previous layer of powder which is then laser sintered according to the 3D printing designs until the required object is made.
Selective laser melting (SLM)
SLM technology is very similar to SLS technology. Only difference between the two is that while in SLS technology, powder is sintered, SLM technology completely melts the powder used for making object.
Laminated object manufacturing( LOM)
This technology is also known as rapid prototyping system. IN this system, layers of material are coated with adhesive and fused together with the help of heat and then cut into shape using a laser cutter. Layers of material can be made of paper, plastic or metal laminates and bonded by adhesive using heat and rollers.
This is a much faster 3D printing process and relatively larger parts can be printed using this technology.
You could also wonder how people are using 3D printing near me. Well, many people are making use of 3D printing technology to create objects like airliner of the future, safer earbud for music lovers, creating 3D printing designs for toys, designing and creating 3D jewellery and much more.
To know more about 3D printing and getting new products made, get in touch with Glober Design.
